Tape-measure.



- No. 869,169. 7 PATENTED new. 22. 1907.

c. E. FLINT.

TAPE MEASURE.

APPLIOATION FILED we. 22. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ERNEST FLINT, OF HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO DAVID BARCLAY, OF HOBART, AUSTRALIA.

TAPE-MEASURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed August 221 1996- se ial NO- 33116 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ERNEST FLINT, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hobart, in the State of Tasmania, Commonwealth of Australia, jeweler, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Connected with Tape-Measures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tape measures used by tailors, dressmakers and others, and consists in connecting to two or more tapes together in such a way that several measures can be taken and recorded on the tapes by markers attached, without removing them from the fig me of the person being measured. I

The markers hereafter to be described may be used in taking one-or more measurements with a single tape, and to retain such measurements until it is convenient to book them. Thus a single tape as ordinarily used, if fitted with my markers and means for retaining it in position upon the figure of a person being measured, will be found of great assistance for making and retaining several measurements at a time. The use of the markers, by sliding them along the tape to the point to be marked, renders unnecessary the division of such tape into feet and inches, though it will generally be found more convenient to retain the ordinary divisions.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a View of a tape measure with markers upon same. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a marker, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of same. Fig. 4 shows the rear of clip device for holding tape with hook, and pin for attaching a second tape and permitting it to swing thereon. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a marker, with tape attached with swivel pin and a sidewise placed hook, and Fig. 7 represents a coat figure 3 5 with my improvements in use.

Referring to the last mentioned figure upon which a number of tapes have been arranged in accordancewith my invention, a will represent the principal tape that is secured in position upon the coat I), at a point near the 40 nape of the neck. Attached to said tape at the top in such a way as to be capable of swinging thereon is another tape c, and a third, namely d is adapted to be slid up or down tape a owing to its swinging attachment to a sliding piece a, illustrated in Fig. 6, said piece 6 at the 4.5 same time serving, if required, the purpose of a marker.

A fourth tape f may likewise be attached to a sliding marker as e.

The head of the tape is provided with a metal clip piece upon which is a pair of downwardly projecting prongs for the purpose of securing the tape tothe coat.

I use two prongs, as the pair keep the tape more securely in place than one hook could do. I make use of other single hooks or prongs, as shown in Fig. 6, for the purpose of steadying the tapes when taking measurements either obliquely or at right angles from the principal. Thus, the four tapes above mentioned are arranged for taking the measurements of.a coat namely, 1, the length, 2, length of arm, 3, front shoulder and depth of scye, and 4, over shoulder. More measurements may be taken if more tapes are placed on the principal, but I 6 0 have found that such measurements as chest, waist and seat are more easily taken with an ordinary separate single tape provided with markers as herein described. The arrangement of tapes above indicated provides, inter alia, for obtaining accurately the depth of scye, by 6 5 means of fixing the tapes at certain necessarypoints on the coat or vest on the figure. I

In taking the measures, the modus operandi is as follows:--The tape a is hooked on coat or vest at or about the nape of the neck. This tape is weighted as at j sufficiently to cause it to hang plumb, thereby enabling the cutter to stand back from the customer and to easily determinethe length of the garment required. The natural and fashion waist and full length measures are then fixed by sliding the markers 7c k to their proper 7 5 places. The tape 0, which is adapted to swing behind tape a, is passed over front shoulder and brought round under the arms, thereby defining with accuracy the depth of scye and front of scye. At the end of tape 0 is a hooked marker 0, which holds the tape against the coat while the other measures are taken. Owing to the tape 0 being attached to clip of tape a so as to swing thereon, the tape a may be used over either shoulder, which will be found an advantage where it is necessary to take measures over both shoulders, or in the case of a left hand operator. After a and e have been placed in position, tape dis slid down a and made a fixture at center of back by hook I, which keeps it in position while measures for across the back, elbow, and full length of sleeve are obtained, all of which points are then fixed by the markers k k. The tape d is attached loosely to marker or sliding piece a so as to swing in the same way as c on a, which adapts tape d for measurements in any direction from a, the piece 0 sliding thereon. After taking the arm measurements, tape (1 may thus be used for the over shoulder measurements, thereby saving tape f, which may also be loosely attached to a hooked marker e, but in this case the hook would have an upward direction, because tape f is taken upwards over the shoulder. Thus by using the tapes and means for holding them in position, the person taking the measurements will thereby obtain a better view of the customers figure than is at present the case where the tailor or cutter has to remain close to the customer in order to hold his tape in position.

Referring particularly to the markers is, these are adapted to receive the tape which is passed through and held therein by spring at which grips the tape. The

ends of the markers are formed to provide milled finger pieces which permit of the marker being easily moved from point to point. The markers k are preferably provided with hooks such as 1, so that they may be fixed to the garment as shown in Fig 7. In the case of the tape f the hook may be dispensed with, as the tapes (1, c' and (1 will be sufficiently held to insure that f will not materially move the others from position. In the case of the single tape a, the head of this tape may preferably be provided with the prongs h h which, with the markers It It, will permit of its being used singly for taking one or more measurements, if necessary.

The invention may be used for measuring ladies garments in which case the coat or bodice would be treated in substantially the same way as indicated above while the skirt could be measured with the single tape.

The spring in of the markers 70 may be arranged therein in any way most suitable for securing the tape properly therein. I

In order to indicate the different tapes in the set, each may have a distinguishing mark such as a colored band or the like, so that the particular tape may be selected quickly as required.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. The combination of a principal tape measure adapted to be connected at its upper end to the middle of the back, end a supplementary tape measure attached to said principal measure, and adapted to slide along the latter, and centrally pivoted with relation to the principal measure so as to swing to either side thereof, so that both sides of the person may be measured While the principal measure is in place.

2. The combination of a principal tape measure adapted to be connected at its upper end to the middle. of the back, a marker sliding along said principal measure and having a hook for engaging" the clothing, and a supplementary measure pivoted to said marker, whereby the point of junction of said measures can be easily adjusted and fixed, and said:

supplementary measure can be swung to either side of the principal measure without changing; the position of the latter, and both arm measurements or the like can be taken while said principal measure is in place.

3. The combination of a principal tape measure adapted to be connected at its upper end to the middle of the back, and having means for fastening it to the clothing at such point, supplementary measures adapted to slide along such principal measure and being centrally pivoted with relation thereto, and means for fastening; such measures to the person and markers sliding along such measures, substantially as described.

4. In a measuring device, a tape measure and a marker adapted to slide thereon, such marker having a spring adapted to press against the tape to hold said marker in its adjusted positions,- and having a means for fasteningit to a garment.

5. In combination, a principal tape, a hook on one end thereof and a weight upon the other, a secondary tape swinging on said principal, sliding pieces on said principal, and other tapes swinging on such sliding pieces, hooks on said sliding pieces and markers upon the tapes adapted to be moved alongthe same to the place to be marked, substantially as described.

Signed at Hobart this 19th day of July 1906.

In witness whereof I hzwe hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES ERNEST FLINT,

Witnesses 

